Capsule filler



June 4, 1957 E. N. MILLER I 2,794,456

CAPSULE FILLER Fi'led Sept. 16, 1955 IJ'VVENTOR. V ELIAS N. MILLER.

ATTOIZM EYS United States Patent 6 This invention relatesv to a capsule filler, adapted for the filling of a substantial number of capsules, and for the capping. of said capsules after the same have been filled to a selected level.

While it has been: heretofore proposed to provide devices adaptedto hold a quantity of capsules in upright position while they are beingfill'ed', the devices previously conceived for this purpose havein many instances failed to permit ready adjustability of. the capsule support means to different positions that would permit, first, the filling of the capsules; and second, the capping thereof.

It is tobe noted, in this regard,v that the capsules may best be filled while. engaged in a standing position within openings in a tray. In accordance with the present invention, itis proposed toprovide a devicehaving this characteristic, and as more specific objects, there are among others the following To provide a tray support frame: bodily adjustable: in1a vertical direction to effect corresponding adjustments in the elevation of the tray, so as to dispose the upper ends of capsules either flush with the tray for filling of the capsules or above the tray surface for permitting caps to be fitted on the capsules;

To provide means for elevating and lowering the tray that will also be effective to lock the tray against removal; and

To permit ready interchangeability of trays, thus to allow the use, with a single frame, of trays differing from one another in respect to the number and/ or size of the capsule-receiving openings thereof.

Other objects will appear from the following description, the claims appended thereto, and from the annexed drawing, in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a capsule-filling tray formed according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged transverse section on line 22 of Figure 1;

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary top plan views showing one of the adjusting posts in locking and unlocking positions respectively; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary view like Figure 2 with the tray lowered.

A rectangular open frame has a continuous shoulder 12 extending along the lower edge of the inner side wall thereof. Posts 14 threadedly engaged in corner openings of the frame, have axial extensions 16 at their lower ends, swivelling in circular feet 18 seating, in the lowered position of the frame, in downwardly opening recesses 20. Large diameter heads 22 having segmentally shaped recesses 24 are formed on the upper ends of the posts.

A tray member 26 includes a flat, rectangular body formed with an upwardly projecting peripheral flange 28 the outer surface of which has a downwardly facing shoulder 30 overlying the shoulder 12 for supporting the tray member upon and within the frame.

The tray member is formed with a plurality of apertures 2,794,456 Patented June 4, 7

32 each adaptedto hold the cylinder 34 of a capsule closed by a cap 36.

In use, the posts are turned in a direction to elevate the tray member to its Figure 2 position. Capsule cylinders 34 supported upon a support surface S' are held upright Within the openings with their upper ends flush with the upper surface of the tray body. The posts, it should be noted, are at this time disposed with unrecessed portions of their heads overlying the corners of the tray member so as to prevent removal of thetray member.

The cylinders. may now befilled and any of the material dropping onto the tray member can if desired be brushed onto the cylinders to prevent waste.

Then, with the cylinders filled to the desired extent, the postsare turned in a direction to lower the frame and tray member as shown in Figure 5. The caps 36 may now be ice applied and the tray member removed and inverted toscribed above since it: may be utilized for any purpose towhich it may be: suited. Nor is the invention to be necessan'ly limited to the specific construction illustrated and described, since such construction is only intended to be illustrative of the principles, it being considered that the invention comprehends any minor change in construction that may be permitted within the scope of theappended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A capsule filler comprising: a continuous, open-center frame having a shoulder extending along the inner side wall thereof; posts threadably engaged in the frame at locations spaced peripherally of the frame, said posts having axial extensions at their lower ends; supportingsurface-engaging feet receiving said extensions, the extensions being swivelly mounted in the feet for raising and lowering the frame responsive to rotation of the posts; heads formed on the upper ends of the posts each having a recess formed therein; and a tray member including a fiat body formed with an upwardly projecting peripheral flange the outer surface of which has a downwardly facing shoulder seating upon the first named shoulder, said body having a plurality of capsule-receiving apertures, said posts when turned in one direction elevating the frame and tray member, the top surface of the tray being flush with that of the frame on seating of the second shoulder on the first named shoulder, said heads overlying and binding against the tray member and the frame on elevation of the frame and tray member to lockably engage the same against relative movement in a vertical direction,said body when, elevated into engagement with the heads having its top surface spaced above the feet a distance such that the upper ends of capsules of a predetermined size will be flush with the top surface of the body when said capsules are supported on a surface on which the feet are positioned, said recesses being adapted to register with the portions of the tray member which the heads overlie responsive to rotation of the posts, for removal of the tray member from the frame.

2. A capsule filler comprising: a continuous, opencenter frame having a shoulder extending along the inner side wall thereof; posts threadably engaged inthe frame at locations spaced peripherally of the frame, said posts having axial extensions at their lower ends; supportingsurface-engaging feet receiving said extensions, the extensions being swivelly mounted in the feet for raising and lowering the frame responsive to rotation of the posts; heads formed on the upper ends of the posts each having a recess formed therein; and a tray member including a fiat body formed with an upwardly projecting peripheral flange the outer surface of which has a downwardly facin g shoulder seating upon the 'first named shoulder, said body having a plurality of capsule-receiving apertures, said posts when turned inone direction elevating the frame and tray members, the top surface of the tray. member being flush with that of the frame on seating of the second shoulder on the first named shoulder, said heads overlying and binding against the tray member and the frame. on elevation of the frame and tray member to 1ockably engage the same against relative movement in a vertical direction, said body when elevated into engagement with the heads having its top surface spaced above the feet; a'

distance such that the upper ends of. capsules of a predetermined size will be flush with the top surface of the body when said capsules are supported on a surface on which the feet are positioned, said recesses being adapted to register with the portions of the tray member which the heads overlie responsive to rotation of the posts, for removal of the tray member from the frame, the tray member and frame being of rectangular configuration with the posts located at the corners thereof, said recesses being angularly shaped to complement the corners of the rectangular tray member.

3. A capsule filler comprising: a continuous, opencenter frame having a shoulder extending along the inner side wall thereof; posts threadably engaged in the frame at locations spaced peripherally of the frame, said posts having axial extensions at their lower ends; supportingsurface-engaging feet receiving said extensions, the extensions being swivelly mounted in the feet for raising and lowering the frame responsive to rotation of the posts;

4 heads formed on the upper ends of the posts each having a recess formed therein; and a tray member including a flat body formed with an upwardly projecting peripheral flange the outer surface of which has a downwardly facing shoulder, .seating upon the first named shoulder, said body having a plurality of capsule-receiving apertures, said posts when turned'in one direction elevating the frame and tray member, the top surface of the tray member being flush with that of the frame on seating of the second shoulder on the firstnamed shoulder, said heads overlying and binding against the tray member and the frame on elevation of the frame and tray member to lockably engage the same against relative movement into a vertical direction, said body when elevated into engagement with the heads having its top surface spaced above the feet a distance such that the upper ends of capsules of a predetermined size will be flush with the top surface of the body when said capsules are supported on a surface on which the feet are positioned, said recesses bein g adapted to register with the portions of the tray member which the heads overlie responsive to rotation of the posts, for removal of the tray member. from the frame, the flange of the tray member being rigid with and extending con-' tinuously through the full periphery of the body of said;

member to provide an unbroken retaining wall about-the body adapted for confining to the surface of the body materials with which the capsules are to be filled.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Contant Sept. 7, 1937 

